Automobile body manufacture



Aug. 4, I925. 1,548,798

' I c. H. WIDMAN AUTOMOBILE Bony MANUFACTURE Filed Oct. 26, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,798

. c H. WLDMAN AUTOMOBILE Bonv MANUFACTURE Filed Oqt. 26, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 f r mm I 3,

gn-uenl'u /mrs 4 5 05)? Aug. 4, 1925.- 1,548,798

C. H. WIDMAN AUTOMQBILE BODY MANUFACTURE Filed Oct. 26, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

FICE.

CHARLES H. \VIDMAN, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMOBILE BODY MANUFACTURE.

Application filed October 26, 1923.

mobile body wherein the outer casing composed of the cowl and various panels are finished or enameled prior to their assembly upon the body frame.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a series of jigs or fixtures adapted to locate and hold in firm position the cowl and various panels of the body while they are being assembled to the body frame.

In furtherance of this object it is very desirable to provide jigs which are provided with felt or some other suitable soft substance on the under side of the jig where it contacts with the finished portions of the body so as not to mar the same, and to also so construct the jigs that the edges of the cowl and panels may be securely nailed in place without in any way injuring the finished portion thereof, so that unskilled labor may be used in assembly.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists of the arrangement, combination and construction of the various parts of my improved devices as set forth in the specification, claimed in my claims and shown in the accompanying drawings,

in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the body and a fixture used in assembling the cowl.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of a body and a fixture used in applying the rear lower panel of the body.

Fig. 4: is an elevation of a portion of the body and a jig used in applying the back lower panel of the body.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of a portion of a body showing the jig employed in assembling the back upper panel.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the jig shown in Fig. 6.

Serial No. 670,955.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a jig and door upon which it is used.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation showing a jig and door.

11 is a sectional View taken on line 1111 of Fig. 10.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a body frame having a standard 5 to which the rear of the cow] 6 is to be secured as at 7. I have provided a consisting of a member 8 having a felt lining 9 on its under side adapted to bear against the cowl 6 adjacent its rearward edge. Another member 10 is secured to the member 8 at right angles thereto and extends along the lower portion of the cowl so as to properly locate the fixture. The fixture is secured in place by a plurality of clamps 11 of the well known type wherein the portion 12 thereof bears against the outer face of the member 8, and the portion 13 thereof on the end of the screw 14 is adapted to bear against the inner face of the standard 5 so that by screwing inwardly upon the screw 14: the maybe securely held in place, and by screwing outwardly the clamp may be released. The clamps hereinafter mentioned are of the same construction.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a body frame 15 upon which a rear side panel 86 is to be secured. I have provided a jig consisting of five sections 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 with an intermediate brace 21 extending between the portions 16 and 18. The is secured in place by clamps 11 identical with those shown in the preceding figures. The portions 16 and 20 of the jig are bevelled at their outer edges 22 and 23 so as to permit nailing of the edges of the panel 86 as at 24 without marring the panel proper. Notches 25 are provided in the section 20 in which one end of the clamps 11 may rest so as to give a firm bearing therefor. The under side of the jig is provided with a felt lining as is shown in Fig. 2.

In Figs. 4c and 5 I have shown the back of an automobile frame to which a back panel 26 is to be assembled. I have provided a jig having four sides 27, 28, 29 and 30 of the same general shape as the panel 26 but slightly smaller than the same so that the edges thereof do not quite extend to the edges of the panel. I provide a plurality of brackets 31 secured to the portion 30 of the jig as at 32 and having the top portion 33 thereof extending over the cross piece 8 1 of the frame so as to definitely locate the jig with reference to the body and hold it in place until the clamps 11 are secured thereto in the same manner as in Fig. 3. The edges of the portions 27, 29 and 30 are bevelled as at 35, 36 and 37 so as to-pcrmit nailing of the edges 38, 39 and d0 of the panel 26 Without dan'iaging; the main portion thereof. It will be noted that the jig is provided With'a felt lining non its under side to prevent damaging the face of th'e'pa'nel 2-6 of the j i g.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a back uppe panel 42' adapted to be assembled to the vehicle frame and a jig for use in connectiomtherewith consisting of two separated horizontal members 4153 and er, a plurality of vertical spacers 19d and side horizontal portions 45' adapted to be hinged as at 46 to the n enr bers r and The said horizontal members adjacent to the hinged connection are rounded in fornrto conform with the shape of the body. A; felt lining l'l is provided on the inner faces of the jig portions to pre ventinjury to the polished portion of the panel 42. A plurality of brackets 48 are secured t o-the portion 4 3 of the having top portions 49 adapted to engage over the top ermit nailing of the edges 51' of the panel 5300f the body so as to definitely locate and hold the'jig in place until clamps 11 can be secured thereon. The outer edges of the portions 43, 44: and 45 are bevelled so as to 42 Without damage to the 'a'anel.

InFigs; 9, 10 and 111 have showna table 52upon' which a jig 53 may rest. The up per face of the jig 53 is shaped to conform with the" desired shape of an automobile door' consisting of the panel 5 adapted to be secured on the framework 55. The face ofl 'the 53 is provided Witha felt lining 56 in order to prevent marring the polished surface of the door panel. A plurality of clamps 1 1 is secured around the jig and the door frame so as to definitely pressthe metal of thepanels in position and hold it there \vl'i'ilethe edgesthereof are being nailed as at 57and 58.-

It will thus be seen that I have provided means Wherebyhll the panels and cowl of an automobile body may be assembled to the body frame by unskilled labor \vithout'in" any way marring the face of the same;

W'hile my invention may be desirable for use on bodies which are not pie-enameled or pre=f0rmed ,l (lGSll'elt to be'understood that the construction herein'shown is ofthat type and: is therefore particularly applicable to that type of body. that I have provided means whereby the various parts" are definitelylocatedmpoii the frame so that they will at all times be properlyinposition for assembling, and so that It will likewise be seen nonabrasiveface formed to the contour sired for a body parta nd-anea-nsforclamp body frame to prevent buckling of the part while it is being secured to the frame.

2. A jig: for assembling automobile body parts comprisingapair of'horizonml spaced mg said part and jig to a portion of the members j oined *bycross' pieces, each having members extendingfronr bothends substantia lly perpendicular thereto and parallel with each other, said inembersbeing hinged to said horizontalmBIIIlQ QIS tO aid in forming a curved j oin t, a tl of said members haw ing a nomabrasive-face;

3; A -ig'for' assembling:automobilebody partscomprising a pair of horizontah spaced members oined by crosspieces, each having members extending-from both ends substan tia lly perpendicular thereto" and parallel! with each other, said members being hinged 1 to said horizontal memberstoaid in forming a curved joi-nt,all of said members having anon-abrasive face, and'atleast a portion of said members having one upper edge chamfered.

at; Ajigwfor' assembling automobile body partscoinprising a pair ofhorizonta'l spaced members j oined' bye'ross pieces, each having members eXtendii'ig-from both endssnbstan tiall'y' perpendicularthereto and parallel with each othe'r,-saidmembers being hinged to saidhorizont'al members to aid in forming a curved jolllty all of said members havmg: 7 a noirabr-asl've face; and at least ''apoition of said members having one upper edge" chainferechrone of 'said horizontal members having hangers thereon adaptedt'o 'engage;

with a"portio1i-0f the body and locatetlie jig with referencethereto. l j

5. A jig for assembling automobiletbody parts comprising membeis extended adja cent the exposed edges of the parts; hang+ ers on at least one ofsaid-me'mllers to aid in holding the same in-Zpl'ace, said niembei's edge-s chamfered;

Dated, October22, L923.

CHARLES H. WIDIvI-AN. 

